Longitudinal and depth variation of bacterioplankton productivity and related factors in a temperate estuary

Bacterioplankton productivity (BP) spatial variation was investigated in relation to potential resources, including primary productivity and dissolved organic matter, in the micro-tidal Neuse River–Pamlico Sound estuarine system, North Carolina, USA. Estuarine BP was predicted to correlate with the trophic gradient, decreasing along the salinity gradient in parallel with the decrease in organic matter and primary productivity. This prediction was tested over four years at spatial scales ranging from kilometers to meters along the riverine axis and with depth. The general pattern of BP across the salinity gradient was unimodal and matched the phytoplankton patterns in peak location and variability. Peak locations varied with discharge, especially in 2003 when above average discharge moved peaks downstream. Spatial coherence of BP with other variables was much less at short time scales. The effect of temperature, nutrients, and phytoplankton on BP varied by location, especially fresh versus brackish stations, although only temperature explained more than 20% of the BP variation. Depth variation of BP was as great as longitudinal variation and bottom samples were often higher than surface. BP was strongly correlated with particulate organic carbon at the pycnocline and bottom, highlighting the importance of particulate matter as a resource. Station-averaged BP and phytoplankton data corresponded well with two published meta-analyses, although the offset of the freshwater station suggested longitudinal differences in community composition or resource availability.     

Factors to consider in evaluating the management and conservation effectiveness of a whale sanctuary to protect and conserve the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

This paper examines key factors used in protecting the migratory North Atlantic right whale within the context of a marine protected area (MPA) system, using the Grand Manan Whale Conservation Area, in New Brunswick Canada, as a case study example. Designated as a conservation area in 1993, before the Oceans Act came into effect, the Grand Manan conservation area currently does not form part of the Canadian network of MPAs. Given the possibility that MPA designation may occur, the paper examines factors that should be considered in meeting International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) MPA design criteria and IUCN evaluation model requirements. An MPA evaluation framework based on an IUCN evaluation model (Hockings et al., 2000 [1]) is designed to assess the effectiveness of an MPA in protecting a migratory right whale. Case study results indicate that current management and research activities for the Grand Manan conservation area address most governance, biophysical and socio-economic issues under an IUCN evaluation framework. On a site basis, it is recommended that the Grand Manan conservation area be designated as a component of the Canadian network of MPAs and that regulations be developed and implemented under the Species at Risk Act to clearly define activities considered damaging or destructive to right whale critical habitat. Recommendations also suggest the preparation of a combined site management-action plan for the Grand Manan conservation area indicating how activities specified in North Atlantic Right Whale Recovery Strategy will be implemented locally. On a regional and international basis, recommendations call for an internationally coordinated and integrated approach to right whale protection within the context of a network of designated critical habitat areas. Recommended activities include: continued Canadian participation in cross-border research and actions to mitigate threats to the right whales over their migratory range; development of a regional right whale management and monitoring strategy; and designation of additional critical habitats in national/international waters. It is further recommended that the evaluation framework developed by this paper be used as a model in assessing the conservation and management effectiveness of MPAs protecting other migratory marine species.     

Emerging fisheries,emerging fishery interactions with sea turtles: A case study of the large-mesh gillnet fishery for flounder in Pamlico Sound,North Carolina,USA

Emerging fisheries and changes in fishery practices are not always readily apparent, nor are their impacts on non-target species such as seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Data from several different sources led managers to discover high rates of sea turtle bycatch in an inshore large-mesh gillnet fishery in North Carolina, USA, particularly the emerging deep-water gillnet fishery. This paper reviews the history of how increased numbers of observed stranded sea turtles in 1999 led to the discovery that turtles were becoming entangled in the large-mesh gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound, North Carolina. It also demonstrates how a variety of data sets from fisheries observers, aerial surveys, and fisheries statistics programs contributed to shaping management of the large-mesh gillnet fishery in Pamlico Sound to decrease turtle bycatch and now point towards the need of additional assessment of gillnet bycatch in other parts of North Carolina. Finally, potential approaches are discussed for a more timely detection of future fishery conflicts and development of a plan to reduce otherwise inevitable bycatch and disruptions to fishing effort.     

Impact of mega-scale sand extraction on tidal dynamics in semi-enclosed basins: An idealized model study with application to the Southern North Sea

Long-term considerations of repeated and increasing sand extraction on the Netherlands Continental Shelf (North Sea) may lead to the creation of a mega-scale extraction trench in front of the Dutch coast (length hundreds of km, width over 10 km, depth several m). We investigate the impact of such a huge topographic intervention on tidal dynamics, which is a key aspect in hydrodynamics, and indirectly also affecting morphodynamics and ecology.     

Numerical Simulation of North Indian Ocean State Prior to the Onset of SW Monsoon Using SSM/I Winds

The Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) and currents are simulated over the north Indian Ocean, during the onset phase of southwest monsoon for the three years 1994, 1995, and 1996, using daily Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) winds and National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) heat fluxes as forcings in the 2½ layer thermodynamic numerical ocean model. The results are discussed for the 30-day period from 16 May to 13 June for all the three years, to determine the ocean state during the onset phase of SW monsoon. The maximum variability in the simulated SST is found along the Somali coast, Indian coasts, and equatorial regions. The maximum SST in the North Arabian Sea is found to be greater than 30°C and minimum SST in the west equatorial region is 25°C during the onset phase of all three years. Model SSTs are in agreement with Reynolds SST. SST gradients in the north-south as well as in the east-west directions, west of 80°E are found to change significantly prior to the onset. It can be inferred from the study that the SST gradient of 2.5°C/2000 km is seen due north and due west of the region 2° - 7°S, 60° - 65°E, about 8 to 10 days prior to the arrival of SW monsoon near Kerala coast. Upper and lower layer circulation fields do not show prominent interannual variability.     

北秦岭四方台基性-超基性杂岩锆石 LA-ICP-MS年代学研究

四方台杂岩体是北秦岭沿商-丹带出露的基性-超基性杂岩体中最大的一个,出露面积约40 km2,由超基性-基性-中性岩石组成,侵入到丹凤群中。对四方台杂岩体中辉长岩锆石进行LA-ICP-MS微区定年研究,获得岩体的成岩时代为460±29 Ma。获得的32个测点可明显地分为400~500 Ma、700~900 Ma、1 800~2 600 Ma和2 700~2 918 Ma这4个时段,可能分别代表了北秦岭造山带不同地质时期的构造-岩浆事件的时代信息。其中400~500Ma与北秦岭地区表现强烈的加里东运动时限一致,而700~900 Ma则可能与830~740 Ma中国中西部地区响应积极的、造成Rodinia超大陆裂解的地幔柱活动有关。     

东格陵兰盆地油气资源评价

东格陵兰盆地陆上和近海地区是目前北极与深水油气勘探的热点地区,但油气勘探程度和资源认识程度低。美国地质调查局(2000、2007年)油气资源评价结果表明该区具有很大的油气资源潜力,同时油气勘探具有高风险和不确定性。通过收集整理东格陵兰盆地、北海盆地油气地质资料及油气田勘探开发数据,从区域上对两个地区的油气成藏条件进行了对比,并采用地球化学方法与类比法,评价了东格陵兰盆地的油气资源潜力。东格陵兰盆地属于晚古生代—中生代的裂谷盆地,呈现两坳一隆的构造格局,与挪威陆架盆地在进入被动陆缘阶段之前具有相同的地质发育过程,沉积环境类似,共同经历古生代和中生代裂谷及裂后的热沉降。东格陵兰盆地发育晚古生代湖相烃源岩、上侏罗统海相烃源岩,储层主要为中侏罗统浅海相砂岩和白垩系深海浊积砂岩,圈闭类型主要为伸展构造圈闭、地垒断块圈闭、盐构造圈闭以及地层圈闭等。东格陵兰盆地油气成藏条件优越,油气资源潜力较大,具有较好的勘探前景。在影响东格陵兰盆地油气资源认识的诸多地质因素中,有利圈闭类型、必要数量的烃源岩以及油气生成条件和适当埋藏史还待进一步证实。     

Continuous inline mapping of a dissolved methane plume at a blowout site in the Central North Sea UK using a membrane inlet mass spectrometer – Water column stratification impedes immediate methane release into the atmosphere

The dissolved methane (CH₄) plume rising from the crater of the blowout well 22/4b in the Central North Sea was mapped during stratified water column conditions. Geochemical surveys were conducted close to the seafloor at 80.3 m water depth, below the thermocline (61.1 m), and in the mixed surface layer (13.2 m) using membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) in combination with a towed CTD. Seawater was continuously transferred from the respective depth levels of the CTD to the MIMS by using an inline submersible pump. Close to the seafloor a well-defined CH₄ plume extended from the bubble release site ∼460 m towards the southwest. Along this distance CH₄ concentrations decreased from a maximum of 7872 nmol l⁻¹ to less than 250 nmol l⁻¹. Below the thermocline the well-defined CH₄ plume shape encountered at the seafloor was distorted and filaments were observed that extended towards the west and southwest in relation to current direction. Where the core of the bubble plume intersected this depth layer, footprints of high CH₄ concentrations of up to 17,900 nmol l⁻¹ were observed. In the mixed surface layer the CH₄ distribution with a maximum of up to 3654 nmol l⁻¹ was confined to a small patch of ∼60 m in diameter. The determination of the water column CH₄ inventories revealed that CH₄ transfer across the thermocline was strongly impeded as only ∼3% of the total water column inventory was located in the mixed surface layer. Best estimate of the CH₄ seabed release from the blowout was 1751 tons yr⁻¹. The fate of the trapped CH₄ (∼97%) that does not immediately reach the atmosphere remains speculative. In wintertime, when the water column becomes well mixed as well as during storm events newly released CH₄ and the trapped CH₄ pool can be transported rapidly to the sea surface and emitted into the atmosphere.     

Distribution and source of heavy metals in the surface sediments from the near-shore area,north Jiangsu Province,China

Samples of surface sediment and vibrocore were collected in the near-shore area of north Jiangsu Province for grain size, elements, ²¹⁰Pb_excess and ¹³⁷Cs analyses. In our study area, the diversity of metal concentration was controlled not by the grain size, but by the source. The element content of the old Yellow River Delta was used as baseline for our study area. Geoaccumulation indexes indicate that no station was polluted by Cu, Pb, Zn and As, but the I_geo values of As were close to zero in some stations. Slight pollution caused by Cd was observed in some stations. Correlation and enrichment factors suggest that Cu, Pb and Zn are lithogenic in origin, while As and Cd are mixed in origin. Especially, in some polluted stations Cd was obviously anthropogenic in origin.     

北祁连俯冲-增生杂岩带中低温榴辉岩的地球化学特征

北祁连俯冲-增生杂岩带中的低温榴辉岩以透镜体形式产于蓝片岩和多硅白云母片岩中。根据稀土元素、微量元素及Sr-Nd同位素分析研究,可将本区低温榴辉岩分为两类:Ⅰ类榴辉岩以轻重稀土分异不明显和具有Eu正异常为特征;Ⅱ类榴辉岩的轻稀土富集,有轻微的Eu负异常。Sm-Nd同位素研究显示,I类榴辉岩样品的εNd(t)值为2.5~6.9,平均值为4.5;Ⅱ类榴辉岩εNd(t)=-3.3~1.4。这些研究成果表明,Ⅰ类榴辉岩的原岩来源于长期亏损的地幔源区,可能形成于大洋环境;而Ⅱ类榴辉岩的原岩在形成过程中很明显混入了陆壳物质,据此推断其原岩形成于大陆边缘或洋陆过渡环境。